'Black Mirror' Creator Announced As Headline Speaker For SXSW Sydney

In some exciting news for Black Mirror fans, Charlie Brooker, the creative genius behind the Netflix anthology series has today (Sep. 14) been announced as a headline speaker for SXSW Sydney 2023.

Brooker joins a stacked program of over 1,000 ground-breaking events and sessions that draw inspiration from visionary thinkers worldwide across Tech and Innovation, Screen, Music, Games and Culture as Sydney transforms into a hub for the creative industries.

Of joining the SXSW Sydney roster, Brooker said in a statement: “Having to quickly provide a personal quote for a press release about how excited I am to join the inaugural Sydney-flavoured SXSW event is exactly the sort of thing ChatGPT is for, but I’ve written this one myself because I still care about our species, dammit.”

He added, “Although I initially misspelt ‘inaugural’ just then until I got corrected by a machine, so actually maybe we’re just rubbish. This tense love-hate relationship with technology is what Black Mirror is all about. That and stories about Prime Ministers and pigs.”

“Anyway, I can’t wait to attend and get so cowed by all the creativity and innovation on display that I go home feeling depressed and inadequate. I’m genuinely looking forward to it.”

Colin Daniels, Managing Director of SXSW Sydney added: "SXSW Sydney seeks to offer unique perspectives of the future, making Charlie Brooker an ideal speaker for our event. Black Mirror consistently leads the cultural conversation on what we face in the now or may confront in our future, offering a chance for reflection and change. Charlie embodies what attendees can expect from SXSW Sydney; creativity and innovation."

Brooker's presence at SXSW Sydney is perfectly aligned with the festival's vision, which aims to offer unique perspectives on the future. Black Mirror — a series renowned for its ability to reveal humanity's darkest tendencies and the potential consequences of our technological advancements — merges seamlessly with the event's themes.

Charlie Brooker joins an impressive lineup of speakers, including GRAMMY Award winner Chance The Rapper, Coachella festival CEO Paul Tollett, Slack Co-Founder Cal Henderson, and futurist AI expert Amy Webb, among many others.

The festival also boasts more than 300 panels and sessions that will keep attendees at the forefront of cutting-edge discussions, with topics including brain-computer interfaces, lab-grown meat, First Nations knowledge in design, ethical interactions with robots, AI fluency, Big Tech transparency, reimagining news media, and the future of love, and much, much more.

Lastly, music enthusiasts can rejoice as SXSW Sydney will host over 300 artist performances, featuring a lineup of fresh talent from around the world. TikTok stars, rising hip-hop powerhouses, genre-bending artists, and more will grace the stages during the festival's Music, Screen, and Games segments.

To gain access to SXSW Sydney, attendees can acquire badges, which grant access to all festival activities, or wristbands, which provide access to specific segments such as the Music, Screen, or Games festivals.

SXSW Sydney 2023 will also feature more than 300 music performances featuring emerging talents from around the world. Notable artists like TikTok sensation Flyana Boss, Indonesian triple threat Isyana Sarasvati, Japanese punks Otoboke Beaver, and rising hip-hop powerhouse Miss Kannina will take the stage, presented by SXSW Sydney Official Music Partners Young Henrys.

Current pricing for both Badges and Wristbands is available until Midnight on Wednesday 13 September. For more information, head to sxswsydney.com.  

SXSW Sydney 2023 Key Dates

Make sure to mark your calendars for the key dates of SXSW Sydney 2023:

• 15-22 Oct 2023: SXSW Sydney

• 16-21 Oct 2023: Conference

• 18-21 Oct 2023: SXSW Sydney 2023 Music Festival

• 18-21 Oct 2023: Industry networking events and parties

Artists

Over 100 acts have been confirmed so far from over 2,500 applications, representing a diverse global music scene. These talented artists hail from countries such as New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Japan, Korea, and Australia. Here's a glimpse of the exceptional musical talent set to grace SXSW Sydney 2023:

From Australia:

• 1tbsp

• Adam Newling

• Adrian Dzvuke

• Agung Mango

• Alter Boy

• Andrew Gurruwiwi Band

• Anesu

• Andy Golledge Band

• Aodhan

• Ashli

• ASHWARYA

• Babitha

• Baby Cool

• BARKAA

• bella amor

• BESTIES

• BIG SKEEZ

• Big Words

• Caitlin Harnett & The Pony Boys

• Chanel Loren

• Charley

• CLOE TERARE

• CODY JON

• Darlinghurst

• Dean Brady

• Death by Denim

• DICE

• DOBBY

• Dulcie

• dust

• Dylan Atlantis

• Elle Shimada

• Evie Irie

• FRIDAY*

• Girl and Girl

• GO-JO

• Grievous Bodily Calm

• Gut Health

• IJALE

• Inkabee

• Isaac Puerile

• Jem Cassar-Daley

• Kobie Dee

• Mali Jo$e

• Mia Wray

• Mi-Kaisha

• Mikayla Pasterfield

• Milku

• Miss Kaninna

• Mitch Santiago

• Nick Ward

• PANIA

• Phoebe Go

• POOKIE

• Rum Jungle

• Shady Nasty

• Skeleten

• Squid The Kid

• STUMPS

• South Summit

• SUPEREGO

• Teenage Joans

• The Terrys

• These New South Whales

• tiffi

• Trophie

• Tulliah

• Ūla

• Velvet Trip

• Vv Pete

• WILDFIRE MANWURRK

From New Zealand:

• 0800

• 33 Below

• ASHY

• Daffodils

• Daily J

• Fazerdaze

• Foley

• Hanbee

• Hans.

• JessB

• Jujulipps

• Mazbou Q

• MELOWDOWNZ

• Mim Jensen

• Miss June

• Molly Payton

• Mousey

• Paige

• PARK RD

• Proteins of Magic

• RIIKI REID

• Soaked Oats

• There’s a Tuesday

• WHOSHOTSCOTT

• Will Swinton

From South Korea:

• ADOY

• Hypnosis Therapy

• Jacqui

• Lil Cherry & GOLDBUUDA

• Marv

• Meaningful Stone

From Japan:

• CHAMELEON LIME WHOOPIEPIE

• Otoboke Beaver

• yuji

From Indonesia:

• Ardhito Pramono

• Batavia Collective

• Feby Putri

• HINDIA

• G.A.C.

• Grrrl Gang

• Isyana Sarasvati

From Malaysia:

• Lunadira

• Pop Shuvit

From the UK:

• Connie Constance

• Los Bitchos

• Nuha Ruby Ra

• Sorry

• SixSaidIt (also USA)

• Theodor Black

From the USA:

• almost monday

• Automatic

• Flyana Boss

• Owen

• redveil

• Rett Smith

• Wallice

From Canada:

• EKKSTACY

• Hotel Mira

From Thailand:

• ASIA7

Venues

SXSW Sydney 2023 will take place across various vibrant venues, adding to the festival's dynamic atmosphere. Here are some of the venues where the magic will happen:

• APRA AMCOS

• The Underground at the Civic Hotel

• Hollywood Hotel

• Knox Street Bar

• The Lord Gladstone

• Phoenix Central Park

• Sneaky Possum

• The Soda Factory

• The Alley at Agincourt Hotel

• The Barrie

• The Chippo Hotel

• The Underground UTS

• Powerhouse Late at Powerhouse Museum

• Powerhouse Courtyard